Kwan Tee Pagoda, Port Louis毛里求斯关帝庙

Type

Overseas Daoist Temples

Location

Mauritius · Port Louis · Port Louis · Located in the Les Salines area; facing the sea with mountains at its back

First built

1842 · Built by the first generation of Chinese immigrants; managed by the Cohan Tai Biou Society; designated a national heritage site by the Mauritius National Heritage Fund

Heritage status

Mauritius National Heritage Site

Overview

The Kwan Tee Pagoda in Mauritius was built in 1842 by the first generation of Chinese immigrants, its principal deity Guandi (Kwan Tee) — venerated as god of wealth, of war, and of righteousness — with side halls dedicated to Mazu (Ma Chou, guardian of seafarers) and Guanyin (Kwan Yin, sought for the granting of children); it is the oldest Chinese temple or pagoda in the Southern Hemisphere and on the African continent, and has remained in continuous operation for nearly two centuries. The temple's site was chosen according to fengshui, facing the sea with mountains at its back, and its exterior is bright red set off with yellow and green — its siting and coloring fully preserve the building conventions of south Chinese temples, appearing especially distinctive in the setting of an Indian Ocean island. The temple houses multiple altars alongside ancestor worship, combining Daoist, folk-religious, and clan functions, and serves as the center of faith and identity for Mauritius's ethnic Chinese community, most of whom are Hakka. It is managed by the Cohan Tai Biou Society. In 2017 the temple celebrated its 175th anniversary, and the Fete Kwantee, the festival of Guandi's birthday, is held annually. It has been designated a national heritage site by the Mauritius National Heritage Fund, though the year of designation is not clearly recorded.

Highlights

• The oldest Chinese temple in the Southern Hemisphere and on the African continent
• Three altars for Guandi, Mazu, and Guanyin
• Sited according to fengshui, facing the sea with mountains behind
• 175th anniversary of the temple's founding celebrated in 2017